Search - Amanda McBroom :: Best of

Amanda is gold.

thelittletramp | Omaha, NE United States | 04/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Amanda McBroom's distinctive singing voice on jingles of nationally televised commercials. My mother even pointed out how unique and beautiful she sounded. Later on, I was pricing some speakers at an upscale stereo shop, and the salesman put on "West of Oz", Amanda's second direct to disc LP from Shefield labs. I about fell out of my chair, when I realized that this was the voice that I heard on all of those commercials. When I purchased the speakers, I somehow, got the salesman to throw in that album on the deal. Later, I went back to the shop and bought Amanda's first album on the same Shefield label, "Growing up in Hollywood Town". This gold CD is not titled, "The Best of Amanda McBroom", but simply, "Amanda". It is a combination of those two audiophile LPs with her partner, Lincoln Mayorga's instumental tracks removed. It is wonderfully recorded. Amanda's vocals draw you in. The studio musicians have impeccable taste, with the exception of too much harmonica, here and there. My favorite track is "Dorothy". It is a tragic sequel of "The Wizard of Oz", if you will, but perfectfully produced. My only complaint here, is that it starts with an abrupt faid-in from "Over the Rainbow". I always felt that "Rainbow", the first track on the "West of Oz" album, was a little corny, but using the last two measures, or so, of it , to set up "Dorothy" would have been perfect. Other than that, this CD has a variety of passionate material, wonderfully sung by a singer/composer, who deserves, but has not received, super stardom."